Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-05-27
Menagerie Meals.

Menagerie Meals.
The basso profundO Of the menagerle
'roared. The roar was resonant, reverb
Grant, fearful. Ii proved that captivity
bad not injured his vocal organs. Judg-
ing from the effect, he certainly knew
how to locate his tones. Then he yawned
and showed very open countensnce
and some very suggestive teeth, and
also permitted very brief glance into
the red cavern from whence came the
roar. He sat upon his massive launches,
dignified and kingly, and looked out Of
his glorious eyes at the people who had
paid fifty cents to see him without
winking. Suddenly his nostrils dilated.
There was something in the wind. That
something was the scent of blood which
lurked in the fibres of fifteen pound
chunk OF raw beef. A man in check
jumper came toward the cage, carrying
a pail containing four of these chunks.
The proud beast forgot his dignity and
moved uneasily about the front of his
cage, lashing his tawny sides with the
pain T. brush tuft at the end of his tail.
The fifteen-pound chunk of beef was
lifted on the tines of big fork and
thrust between the bars of the cage.
His royal highness grabbed it between
his mighty forepaws; but he couldn't
pull the meat into the cage because
there was big bone in it. Then he
laid down. Holding OH to the meat
with one paw, he thrust the other paw
out through the bars and tried to push
the meat inside. When he found that
his efforts were in vain lie lay still and
uttered "A sub cellar growl, which in
dicated that he meant business. The
man in the check jumper came to his
relief with the big fork. After a good
deal of prying and thrusting, the meat
was released and the regal gourmand
licked it with his great red tongue.
Then he bit about a pound of meat and
bone off one corner and crunchsd it be-
tween his iron jaws. He partly closed
his eyes in evident delight as the gen.
erous juices ran over his palate. After
eating all the meat he licked the bone as
clean as a bran-new milk pan; then he
licked his chops, and lastly, his paws.
After this general clear-up he looked at
his keeper as if to say:
"Old fellow, that trihe only whets
my appetite!'
"Come over in this corner and see the
sea lions take dinner" said Tody Ham,
ilton.
The two black glistening animals were
tumbling over each other in their tank,
and uttering curious, impatient barks
at the delay of the man whose duty it
was to throw thirty pounds of smelts,
herring, or other fresh fish to them each
day. When the caterer arrived he dex-
terously threw whole fish into the tank,
which were caught in the air by the sea
lions, and Swallowed whole at a gulp.
The big grizzly bear, most magnin-
cent specimen of the Americanus gigan-
ticus, was engaged in scratching the
back of his neck with one of his hind
feet when the little Poonah bear, who
is his cage mate, told him the dinner
hour had come by his significant sniff.
The grizzly could not have been very
hungry, for he clasped the Poonah in
friendly embrace, which must have
started the little bears ribs, it was so
very cordial.
"That's nothing said Mr.. Hamilton;
"if you will notice the under side OF
the little fellow you will see that his
fur has been removed entirely by those
little attentions OF the grizzly. It's fun
for the big fellow. The trouble is that
he don't realized his strength"
The two bears disposed of their shares
of beef In a jiffy. On five days in the
week all the carnivora are fed on beef.
Each Saturday their diet is varied by an
equal amount of liver. The liver is said
to have beneficial effect in regulating
the health of the animals. The hyenas
were fed with rations out Of hand by
the keeper, and they acted very re-
specially considering their unsavory
regulations. OF all the animals, those
of the cat species behave the worst
while feeding. The native ferocity Of
the royal Bengal tiger-and she is
beauty. with tawny hide marked with
black stripes-came to the surface as she
daIlied with her bloody piece Of beef.
Her glistening eye, sinewy movements,
and the snakelike suggestiveness Of her
slowly-moving tail were infallible in
dications that captivity might blunt but
could never eradicate her desire for
blood. She has gained the distinction
of having killed her man, but her appe-
tite is keen every morning and renewed
every evening. The panthers, jaguars,
and wild cats all share alike in the
amount OF food, aud all exhibit an
equally ferocious appetite. The mon
keys are fed ON milk, bread, and vege-
tables. They are not at all averse TO
succulent onion now and then, even If
it is eaten without salt.
Of the herbiverous animals, the hip
popotamus comes first In the amount
consumed. This blood-sweating mon
ster eats about half bale Of hay each
day, with an occasional dessert in the
shape of bran mash. carrots, cabbage,
I.-1=:.I.s half hn1sh haad of